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THE MEDIA AFRICA ANNUAL_digital

MEDIA AGENCIES/ADVERTISING AGENCIES 5
Mapping
African Agencies
The rapid growth of communication agencies in
Africa was precipitated by large global groups
scaling their businesses to create a significant
presence across a continent full of promise. Keen
to gain a foothold in previously unchartered
territory, acquisitions by global conglomerates started
with South African agencies selling their privately owned
businesses over a decade ago. Today a hefty share
of local and African marketing spend is channelled
through five locally based communication agency
groups and their affiliates in Africa.
To add to the stampede, South African owned
companies forever on the lookout for expansion
opportunities, moved across the border. Followed by
their trusted communication partners.
In many cases ‘people on the ground’ were sought
to ease the passage. This prompted a plethora of
associations, affiliations, partnerships and joint ventur es.
It was not possible to unpack ownership patterns in
time for this edition of The Media magazine. However
the listing suggests significant global and local business
interests within the communication sector.
In this our inaugural issue on Africa, we covered
information of particular use to South African based
marketers. The listings provide fascinating insight into
how communication groups have spread their wings
across Africa.
DENTSU AEGIS
Vizeum Owns: South Africa, Ghana,
Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda
is in the process of being finalised
Associates: Angola, Benin,
Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon,
Central African Republic, Chad,
Congo, DRC, Equatorial Guinea,
Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia,
Côte d’Ivoire, Lesotho, Liberia,
Madagascar, Malawi, Mali,
Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique,
Namibia, Niger, Sierra Leone,
Senegal, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo,
Zambia, Zimbabwe
Carat Owns: South Africa, Ghana,
Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda
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